Auctions have provided for more competition on the renewable energy market. As a result, funding rates are plummeting. For offshore wind energy, they have even gone down as low as zero in some rounds. Now, the 2018 round of auctions is set to begin. Expectations are high. Find out more

When the rotor blades of wind-powered installations freeze over, they can turn into dangerous ice throwers. This is why legislation provides for these installations to be shut off in these conditions. Scientists are working on ways to prevent the need for a shutdown. Find out more

Quote of the week

“It is absolutely essential that we eliminate the barriers that exist between different sectors and make progress on the energy transition in the heat and and transport sector.”

Iris Gleicke, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

direkt reports

In December, the Energy Ministers’ Council agreed on a joint position on the legislative package called ‘Clean energy for all Europeans’. Now, the European Parliament has spoken out in favour of pursuing ambitious goal under a European energy transition, with MPs calling for greater energy efficiency and for raising the share of renewables in the overall energy mix to a binding 35% by 2030. The Member States are called upon to define their own national targets. The negotiations on the Renewables and Energy Efficiency Directives are now continuing under the trilogue procedure involving the European Parliament, the Commission, and the Council.

This year’s Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue will be hosted by the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin on 17 and 18 April 2018. Once again, this event will bring together high-ranking representatives from the political sphere, business, civil society and the energy sector for discussions on how it will be possible for countries around the world to meet the ambitious targets of the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

According to a report published by the transmission systems operators in the region of Central Western Europe, there is an almost 100% probability that Germany will continue to be able to cover its demand for electricity at any time. This high level of energy security is also due to growing volumes of cross-border electricity trading between Germany and its neighbours.

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